Remembering an Accident: Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydro Power Plant Disaster

On August 17, 2009, 75 people were killed when a turbine failed at the Sayano-Shushenskaya Power Station in the southern region of the Russian Federation. The turbine that failed had been vibrating for a long time before the accident occurred. A report published in Power Magazine suggests that it was predictable and preventable. The report revealed the terror of that day:

“Water was washing away people from the turbine gallery into the river. Some of them were later caught and rescued. Some were not. The staff later learned that the turbine gallery was not equipped with proper emergency exits. There were also some miraculous rescues. One worker was washed by the torrent of water filling the turbine gallery up into the ceiling, where he managed to grab some ventilation equipment and hold on until being rescued. Others led employees to safety using cell phones as flashlights.”

http://www.powermag.com/investigating-the-sayano-shushenskaya-hydro-power-plant-disaster/

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